Eric GriffithEmbark Dog DNA Test KitEmbark is the most accurate and comprehensive canine DNA test. Although it may provide more data than even the most dedicated dog owners may want, its medical tests alone make it worthwhile.

Embark is the most accurate and comprehensive canine DNA test. Although it may provide more data than even the most dedicated dog owners may want, its medical tests alone make it worthwhile.

Founded by scientist brothers after years of studying dog genetics, Embark ($199) features the largest database of dog breeds of its kind. It checks against more than 250 types of pup, as well as wolves, coyotes, dingos, and the so-called free-ranging "village dogs." This breadth of analysis is key when it come to the accuracy of breed determination. Embark also checks your pet's DNA for signs of 165 genetic medical conditions, and can determine whether your pupper is a carrier of or at risk for getting a full-blown disease. That's more mutation tests than any other canine DNA testing kit. Embark is expensive, and perhaps offers too much information, but those are its only faults.

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Genetic Screening Services

Embark is the most expensive pet DNA kit I tested, and it's only offered in a single-test kit. At the time of this writing, you could get a better price if you test multiple dogs (use coupon code "MULTIPACK" on Embark's website), with a max of 20 percent off on four or more kits. Shelters, breeders, and vets can also get discounts. But as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. The statement on Embark's site claims its breed identification process "tests over 200,000 genetic markers and builds your dog's breed mix chromosome by chromosome."

During the sign-up process, which you must perform before you send in the sample, the Embark asks you for permission to use your sample for research. Embark is partnered with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine—it helps that co-founder Adam Boyko is a professor there—thus researchers are privy to Embark's data. The company will also work with outside researchers that use the DNA test info, such as current partners VetGenomics and Doberman Diversity Project.

DNA Collection

Embark's packaging stands out against the competition. For example, I like the kit's clear and concise illustrated instructions. A card inside depicts all the instructions, plus it lists the URLs you can visit to activate the kit, look at breed lists, learn how to swab a dog's cheek to obtain a sample, and more.

There's also a "missile-grade" steel dog tag in the package, which has a URL on the back. If your dog gets lost, whomever finds it can use the URL to access shared data about the dog. If said person calls the phone number on the tag, Embark will act as a third party to pair up the finder and the owner. In other words, Embark won't just hand out your personal contact info.

The first thing you do, of course, is activate the kit—just like with human DNA kits. You have the option to use Facebook or Google sign-ins, or create an account with your email address. If you have multiple kits for multiple dogs, register all the kits to the same account for easy online access. Once your account is live, create a dog profile for every kit you want to activate and register each with the numbers from an Embark kit.

Here, you can also decide if you want your dog's data to contribute to medical and scientific research (more on that below.) Embark also informs you that it will send updates by email and, if you desire and are in the US, SMS text message.

The warnings on top of the package instruct you not to crush the box, as it doubles as return shipping container for the DNA sample. This is the only dog DNA test I've seen that requires a single swab—the rest require two samples. Embark's collection sponge comes on the end of a plastic container filled with a stabilizing fluid. Swab the pocket of a dog's lower cheek pouch (between gum and cheek, preferably without them chewing it) for 30 seconds—that's 10 seconds longer than the competition. Unscrew the unit, reverse it, and place the sponge in the fluid. Shake it gently for 10 seconds and the sample is ready to go in the mail. Embark apparently uses a sampler from a company called DNAGenotek; below is the video of instructions used on Embark's site:

The DNA swab tests from the competition involve simply throwing some long cotton swabs in an envelope. Embark's test feels more high-tech and trustworthy, even if there's no way to be sure. This is the same method used by human DNA tester MyHeritage DNA. After all, you can't really get dogs to spit into a tube, like humans do with 23andMe.

Follow the instructions to put the sample in the included plastic envelope, slap it all into that same box it came in, and close the flap. Pop it into the mail. Mine went to Embark's lab at its headquarters in Boston. All the postage is prepaid.

The estimate to get the response from Embark is three to seven weeks. I received a response on one kit in 19 days; the second sample showed up with breed results in 21 days (with an extra day for the rest of the info to appear). This is an excellent turn-around time considering the inflated estimate.

DNA Reports and Extra Features

Embark keeps a sample report online, featuring the CEO's "ridiculously photogenic" dog, Harley. (The dog is, indeed, photogenic.) Once your sample is sent in, Embark keeps you informed via email throughout the process. I got an email saying the kit was en route less than three hours after I dropped it at the post office. I was notified of the sample arrival at the lab, the start of genotyping, when genomicists (scientist who specialize in genomes) would examine the sample, and, finally, an email saying the results were in. I also got an advertisement for that crappy movie Alpha because Embark has a deal with it. Health results sometimes take longer to show up than breed results.

Unlike the other DNA tests we've done, Embark puts a lot of the results in that final email, including a small doughnut chart with initial breed results, and even a little hint of how much wolf DNA is in your purely domesticated doggy. For the full results, you log in via the My Embark site. There, you can also print PDF reports, though not all the data online shows up in the PDF.

My methodology was to test a pure-bred dog (Griffin) once and see if the test company would get the breed right, then test my mixed-breed companion (Madison) twice—once under a false name ("Daisy") and a new account—to see if the results were the same both times. Considering the tests were provided by Embark for our uses, it's possible it could just track the sample numbers it sent to PCMag and keep an eye out for such trickery, but that seems like a lot of work.

The Results

The first stop you'll probably want to make in the full results is the Breed button. I'm happy to report that Embark thought Griffin was a Golden Retriever at 100.0 percent, which agrees with a few other DNA tests, plus Griffin's owner and breeder.

Madison, of course, came back with an all-over-the-place mix of breeds: 34.2 percent American Pit Bull Terrier, 17.5 percent Shetland Sheepdog, 13 percent Labrador, 12.4 percent English Springer Spaniel, 9.1 percent Bull Terrier, 7.1 percent German Shephard Dog (GSD), and 6.7 percent Rottweiler. No other DNA test pegged her as having Springer or GSD in her genes.

What happened with the second test of Madison (aka "Daisy")? All the same breeds were there, just slightly different percentages on those in the middle.

It's interesting that Embark's top breed for Madison is Pit Bull Terrier and not American Staffordshire Terrier—both typically get lumped together under the "pit bull" moniker, but there is a difference, at least in size and appearance. American Staffordshire Terrier was a top pick for Madison by other DNA tests, like Wisdom Panel.

The Breed section also provides some info on the breed families in the dog's makeup, plus gives a look at the haplotype (DNA sequence) for the dog's mother and father, even showing maps of where the dog's ancient ancestors may have originated. This is trivial stuff, and some of it (like the maps) feels like filler.

The family trees for Madison and "Daisy" were identical. Tests from DNAffirm and DNA My Dog failed to be consistent even with themselves, throwing any faith in them into doubt. Not so with Embark. The family tree view breaks out the breed parentage. Note that Griffin didn't even earn a tree, which is fine, as it would be all Goldens.

Health and More

Perusing the Breed section under your dog's entry is just the beginning. The Research section requires work from you, the dog owner—it's for those who plan to contribute their dog DNA to science. Embark hopes you'll fill out a few little surveys to make that contribution worthwhile, on topics like your dog's dental health, behavior problems, and allergies, and a full medical survey. It's exactly as much fun as you'd expect: none. However, do it if you want to earn the full experience of making the world better via your dog's genome.

The Health section is arguably the most important, as it has the results for all the tests performed for genetic mutations your dog could have, or at least carry. Griffin's results were perfectly in the clear, which agreed with the findings from Wisdom Panel. Madison's results also agreed—she's a carrier for Degenerative Myelopathy, but won't pass it on since she's spayed. Even while in the clear, this section goes on to show common conditions for the breed(s) of the dog. Most of that information is only going to be of interest to people who have a dog at risk, but the option is there to read about all 165.

Note that Madison's report only shows results for 162 total tests, not the 165 advertised. The company rep said, "if our algorithms are not 100 percent confident of a health call it will not call it." If there's a specific test a customer wants results on and they don't see it, don't assume it's a negative. Embark will review a result manually at the dog owner's request.

There are links in the Health section for creating an easy-to-share or -print report for veterinarians. If the dog's a purebred, there's also a link for sending a report on the genetic findings to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), an organization that wants to reduce genetic disease in companion animals.

Finally, there's an Advanced section to show results only a geneticist would understand. It breaks down information like amount of breed DNA found on each of the 38 chromosomes, all in a colorful set of graphs. Scroll down for information on the genetic diversity of the dog, which provides an actual measure of the inbreeding (how closely related the dog's parents are). The more inbreeding, the more genetically inherited conditions can happen. Madison the mutt's parents had an inbreeding coefficient of 0 percent; but the purebred Griffin's parents had 23 percent of a proportion of genes that were identical in both parents.

If you're a whiz at reading genomes, Embark lets you download ZIP files with about 7 megabytes of uninterpreted data of the 200,000 markers in the samples. What you would do with that is anyone's guess.

The Traits report is somewhat interesting, showing the genetic loci that impact colors and coats. It's again burdened with talk about chromosomes and links to other Embark dogs that have similar findings. The exception is the Inbreeding Coefficient section, which shows how much a purebred dog's mom and dad share the same genes. Griffin's parents had a result of 23 percent (Madison the mutt's folks: 0 percent). It was interesting to see "Daisy" show up as having the same genotype as Madison, as well. But in the long run, Wisdom Panel's dummied-down traits section is better for the average user than Embark's more complicated data.

Genetic Conclusions

Embark is the real deal. If you're concerned mainly with your dog's potential genetic health issues, this kit should be your first choice; it simply tests for more problems. For that alone, it's worth that extra $50 over the price of Wisdom Panel. In our results, the breed determination is mostly consistent. With the scientific background the company has, there's little reason to feel less than confident in its outcome. That said, a lot of the data presented is unnecessary and complicated for the average dog owner.

Embark Dog DNA Test Kit

Bottom Line: Embark is the most accurate and comprehensive canine DNA test. Although it may provide more data than even the most dedicated dog owners may want, its medical tests alone make it worthwhile.

About the Author

Eric narrowly averted a career in food service when he began in tech publishing at Ziff-Davis over 25 years ago. He was on the founding staff of Windows Sources, FamilyPC, and Access Internet Magazine (all defunct, and it's not his fault). He's the author of two novels, BETA TEST ("an unusually lighthearted apocalyptic tale"--Publishers' Weekly) an... See Full Bio

Embark Dog DNA Test Kit

Embark Dog DNA Test Kit

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